Nearly one million people accessed food banks in the UK over the last year

A Conservative spokesman said: "We know that many families are facing tough times as a result of the Great Recession of recent years.

"When people are struggling it is right that both Government and organisations in the community offer support. Unlike Labour, we have allowed jobcentres to signpost people to food banks.

"We are also helping to provide emergency financial help to those in desperate need and tackling the real causes of poverty by getting people into work and tackling welfare dependency.

"The best way to help people support themselves and their families is to stick to our long term economic plan which is creating more jobs, so more people have the added security of a monthly pay packet that enables them to support themselves and their families."